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Shanahan: Haynesworth will focus on cardio work

After failing his conditioning test Thursday, Pro Bowler Albert Haynesworth will focus on cardiovascular training and be retested each day until he passes, Coach Mike Shanahan said after the Redskins first practice of training camp at Redskins Park.

"Obviously, you'd like him to be in the type of shape as the players around him," Shanahan said. "Bottom line is we're going to get him in shape. He's going to be on our football team. If he's going to play at the level that we'd like him to play then he's got to be in great football shape. Hopefully, he'll get it done tomorrow but it may take two, three days, may take the week. You don't know. His weight's fine. He's just got to get the cardio at a certain level to make sure he doesn't injure himself."

Haynesworth, who skipped all but one day of Shanahan's first offseason program, performed well on the first of two 300-yard shuttle runs, team sources said, but stopped during the second run for a lavatory break. After returning, Haynesworth was instructed to start over and he could not complete the process.

Shanahan acknowledged that Haynesworth, who the Redskins say dropped about 35 pounds in the offseason, is the only player who faced the test. "That's exactly right," Shanahan said. "And that's part of being in the offseason program. You don't have to take the test. But there's a certain percentage of workouts that you had to be here. And if you're in that percent, you didn't have to go through the conditioning test because we knew you're in good shape."

Beginning Friday, the Redskins will practice in the morning and afternoon, and Shanahan said Haynesworth is scheduled to take the test before the 8:30 a.m. practice. "He's got to be at a certain level to go out on the field and practice with the rest of our football team," Shanahan said. "If he gets there then he'll be with us. If he doesn't get there then he won't."

Shanahan denied a ProFootballTalk.com report that he had a heated exchange with Haynesworth after Haynesworth failed the test. "No words," Shanahan said. "First class all the way."

Meanwhile, inside linebacker London Fletcher said he had not yet spoken with Haynesworth to clear the air after Fletcher harshly criticized Haynesworth for missing the mandatory minicamp in June.

"Albert's here. We're happy about that," Fletcher said. "We're excited about him being here, looking forward to him getting on the practice field with us. There's no animosity there."

I love Shanahan. Yes, the programs were voluntary, but you don't, as a supposed leader and key component of the defense, miss voluntary activities and then expect to be treated with kid gloves when you finally show up. Like the lack of tact on Shanahan's part or not, but each player is accountable for their actions and they won't have any special treatment this year. Fat contracts don't matter this year. Losing 35 pounds is nothing. When week 10 through 16 hits and a fat player is flopping on the ground begging to be pulled out, he should have been in better condition. Sadly even Fatass isn't even in that good a shape. I hope Shanny runs Fatass out of town.

i don't want to get rid of him. if he can man up, he can play. if he can't, he can put on one of those pink and white jerseys i bought for my daughter...when she was 8...and hand out water in the huddle.

either way, he took the money. he does what he's told. or he gives it back.

@Louise9:
ESPN's report of three 300-yard sprints is consistent with the other reports that AH had to take a lavatory break during the second of the 300-yard sprints and had to start over with two 300-yard sprints after his break. The test apparently required that the two sprints be done one right after the other.